Pressing machine mechanism



Aug. 18, 1931. J. P. DALY 1,319,639 R Q PRESSING MACHINE MECHANISM 4 Original Filed May 11, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l lNVf/VTOR BY Jose/ 72 Pl y 4W A TTORNE 1s Aug. 18, 1931. J. P. DALY 1,819,639

PRESSING MACHINE MECHANl SM Original Filed May 11, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [H q 5 55 E INVENTOR BY Joseph P J41] Aug. 18, 1931. J. P. DALY PRESSING MACHINE MECHANISM 3 R UJ KN m w t V a 1 w & R Q v M P A e n & I P 5, 0 w 0 7 J m Am B G n Nw y I Md I d "m e l n M 1 .m N I M 2 l Aug. 18, 1931. .J P. DALY I 1,819,639

PRESS TNG MACHINE MECHANISM Original Filed May 11, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 BY Joseph M .4 fro/mus Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH 1. DALY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY, INC., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PRESSING MACHINE MECHANISM Application filed May 11, 1927, Serial No. 190,576. Renewed July 30, 1930.

This invention relates to an actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like as garment and laundry or ironing pressing machines, and has for its object an 5 automatic and two-hand control for fluid operated motors as a cylinder and a piston movable therein, by which control the cylinder automatically exhausts if the head of the pressing. machine encounters an obstruction before the press is finally closed. Other objects appear throughout the specification's. I

The invention consists-in the novel features and in the combination and constructions set forth and claimed hereinafter.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 are side views of the press in closed and open positions, respectively. These two views are partial verticalsections and consequently only one of the twohand control manuals is seen. The operator has released the control manuals in both views, and said controls have therefore re turned to their up or normal position by reason of spring means acting on both twohand manuals and on the valve means op-" eratively connected with said manuals.

Figure 3 is a side View in vertical longitudinal section thru the motor cylinder showing the left-hand control manual operativcly connected with .a normally-closed pressure feed valve,- the latter being shown in closed position to normally shut off a pressure feed line from communication with the cylinder during both open and closed press positions but leaving a by-pass branch conduit in direct. communication between the cylinder and pressure feed line to cut out the intake valve and thereby continue to supply fluid pressure to the motor cylinder afterthe press has closeda'nd after the operator has let-goof the'two-hand control means. This view. also shows a safety pressure-sensitive diaphragm means at rest or in normal position and which acts to auto matically kick open a safety'pop-oflf valve means to vent the cylinder and stop the 5e downward travel of the press head in event an obstruction accidentally gets in the path of movementof the press head.

Figure 4 is a detached view of a two-way normally-open exhaust valve, being an -inverted or face view thereof, which is under the control of one of the two-hand manuals. This valve is normally in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and has an exhaust valve passage opening the cylinder out to atmosphere, but by .depressin the control manno ml for this valve it is s ifted to close said vfor starting the motor and this valve position must be held by the operator until the press has reached closed position else the motor will not complete its full stroke.

Figure 6 is a plan assembly view of the motor and two-hand control assembly with all other press parts removed. The twohand control manuals are shown at the left with their operative connections extending to the two valve means placed on each side of the cylinder. Figure 7 is a longitudinal plan section thru the cylinder looking down on the lower half thereof and showsthe normally-closed feed or-intake valve being held open by reason of the operator holding down the operating manual to admit pressure to the motor. Hence the piston has started its out stroke. However, the piston has faltered because the press head has struck something, say the operators hand or some other 0bstruction, and the pressure hasinstantaneously built up behind the piston and consequently a pressure-sensitive safety means has reacted to kick open a safety pop-off valve and the cylinder pressure is therefore escaping thru an exhaust conduit to atmosphere.

,This pressing machine mechanism comprises generally a cylinder. a piston movable in the cylinder, a feed line for a motive fluid as compressed air, having a direct or open branch communicating with the cylinder. and a valve controlled branch communicating with the cylinder, a normally closed manually operable valve in the valve controlled blancll. a normally closed manually operable exhaust valve connected to the cylinder to open the press and also serving as a pressure relief valve for safety purposes. a pressure operated device for opening the exhaust valve upon a pro-determined back pressure in the cylinder caused by an obstruction in the way of the press head, a conduit connecting the pressure operated device and the cylinder and having a two way valve therein, one of the passages of which *normally communicates with the open air to serve as a normally open exhaust, manual means for operating said valve to close said exhaust passage opening into the outer air, and automatic valve mechanism operated by the movement of a piston and normally opening the port in the cylinder connected to the valve controlled branch and closing the port in the cylinder connected to the direct oropen branch and also normally opening the port connected to the conduit returning to the pressure operated means for the relief valve and operating to close the ports which are initially open and to open the port in the direct or open branch as the piston approaches the end of its power stroke.

I have here illustrated my invention as applied to a conventional type of garment or laundry pressing machine including a head 1 movable toward and from a buck 2 which is mounted on a suitable bracket 3 which in turn is mounted on a frame 4 the head being carried by the lever or yoke 5 pivoted between the ends at 6 to the standard 7 rising from the frame 4. The rear arm of this lever is connected to the actuating mechanism and is also provided with a suitable counter weight 8 tending to open the press.

9 designates the cylinder, and 10 the piston movable therein and having its rod 11 connected through motion transmitting mechanism to the rear arm of the press lever 5. This mechanism, as here shown, comprises a toggle consisting of links 12 and 13 and a second booster toggle means 1914. The links 13 and 12 are pivoted together at 15. The link 12 is pivoted to the rear arm at 16 of the yoke lever 5, and the link 13 is pivoted at its lower end at 17 to the booster lever 14 of the second or booster toggle 14-19, the latter being pivoted at 18 to the frame. The piston rod 11 is pivoted to the joint of the toggle links 12 and 13 and the booster lever 14 is operated, when the toggle links 12 and 13 approach their straight position, by a link 19 having a slot 20 therein in which the end of the pivot 15 slides, the link 19 being pivoted at 21 to the booster lever 14. The cylinder 9 is pivoted between its ends at 23 in the frame so that it has an oscillating movement.

Before the stroke of the piston, the pivot 15 of the toggle links 12 and 13 is at the forward end of the slot 20, when the press is in open position. During the out stroke of the piston, the toggle links 12 and 13 are straightened and as they move toward their straight position to close the press, the joint 15 of the toggle moves toward the outer end of the slot 20, and as the pivot 15 presses against an adjusting screw 25 at the end wall of the slot, actuates the booster toggle 1419 and straightens the link lever 14 and thus thrusts the straightened toggle links 12 and 13 upwardly to apply final pressure. The movement of the booster lever is against the action of a spring 24. Also the link 19 is provided with an adjustable shoulder, as the screw 25, for regulating the time at which the booster toggle comes into action.

26 is the main feed line for the motive fluid as compressed air. This feed line has a direct or open branch or pipe 27 leading to a port 28 in the cylinderwall, and a valve controlled branch'29 leading to another port 30 in the cylinder near the upper end there of. The port 30 is located toward the upper part of the cylinder 9 and is normally closed by a manually operable valve 31 in the branch 29. The movable memher or core of this valve 31 in the pipe 29 has an arm 32 which is connected by a link 33 to one of the two-hand control manual means as a handle 34. This handle 34 is here shown as a lever pivoted at 35 to a casing 38 and having one arm connected to the link 33 and its other arm in the shape of a quadrant and provided with a depression 36 for receiving the fingers of the hand of the operator. The quadrant is inclosed in a casing 38 which is suitably supported by the frame 4 of the machine. The lever 34 is also acted on by a-returning spring 37 which tends to hold the valve closed. The valve 31 is usually a three way valve and when in its normal open-press position passages 38 and 38 thereof register respectively with the pipe 39 and an exhaust port 40 in valve casing 31 so that the branch 39 is closed against the intake of motive fluid from the feed line 26. When it is in its operated position its passage 38 opens the branch 39 to the feed line 26 and closes the exhaust port 40, so that unless the operator holds the handle 34 down in its operated exhaust port 42 in the position until the. piston has completed or nearly completed its power stroke, the air will exhaust. out from the cylinder.

41 is an exhaust pipe returning from an cylinder head to a valve casing 43 having a normally closed spring pressed exhaust valve 44 therein, which exhaust valve is operated by a handle or lever 45 pivoted to a bracket on the casing 38 and connected by a stem 46 to the valve 44. This valve 44 is operated when the press is to be opened. It is obvious that the press is held closed by the pressure in the cylinder 9 and that upon the release of this pressure the counter weight 8 will open the press. The exhaust valve 44 also serves as a relief or a safety valve and is opened automatically when the pressure in the cylinder rises to a predetermined point before the piston has completed its power stroke and hence before the press is closed. This condition is brought about when the head of the pressing machine encounters an obstruction before it reaches its finally closed position.

As will be hereinafter described, two handles are required to effect the closing of the press. The obstructions that might be encountered by the ironing or press head are the hands or other part of the body of the person other than the operator. If the machine is controlled by a single handle the obstruction might be one of the operators hands. In machines of this character two hand controls protect the operator but not other parties. Hence one of the features of my machine is the protection of persons other than the operator.

The exhaust valve 44 is also automatically operated by a pressure operated device as a pressure chamber 47 having a diaphragm 48 therein, the latter acting upon the stem 49 of a trip device 50 slidable in a suitable guide 51 against the action of a spring 52. This trip device coacts with a lever 53 acting upon the stem 46 of the exhaust valve 44. The pressure chamber 47 is connected by a pipe 54 to .aport 56 in the cylinder near the head thereof. The flow of fluid through the pipe 54 is controlled by a two wa valve preferably manually operable. The handle of the valve 55 constitutes one of the two control handles of the machine. The valve 55 here shown is a slide or plate 57 covering the cylinder port 56 and hav ing an exhaust passage 58 which normally communicates With the outer air and also having an elongated passage 59 which es-- tablishes communication between the cylinder port 56 and the pipe 54. The slide valve plate 57 also has a full shut off face 'portion .60. The various pipes are usually hose and hence the pipe 54 is flexible to permit the movement of the valve 55. The valve 55 is manually operable by an operating memvalve 44 against the her 61 similar to the operating member. 34, the operating member 61 being connected by a link 62 to a lever arm 63 on the valve 55 which valve is pivoted on the axis Bit-of the oscillating cylinder 9.

In operation of the press. the operator actuates both handles- 3-1; and (it. If he operates the handle 14 and not 61 the air passes through the cylinder and exhausts out through the sleeve valve port 67 and cylinder port 56 and passage 58 of the normally-open exhaust valve 55 to the outer air. (lr if he operates only the handle 6t no air can pass into the cylinder because the valve 31 is not open and because the port 28 is closed by the sleeve. valve to be presently described. \Vhen both handles are depressed the valvef-il is opened to open the valve controlled branch 39 of the t'eed line 26 and the valve 55 is operated to bring its passage 59 in line with the cylinder port 56, so that air is free to pass to the cylinder -9 and is confined therein to actuate the piston. If, however, the piston 10 is stopped before it reaches the end of its power stroke or is retarded by undue resistance, the air passes through the cylinder port 56. passage 59 of valve 55, pipe 54 to the diaphragm chamber and actuates the trip 50 against its spring 52. The movementof the trip 50 is transmitted through the lever 53 to the relief valve 44 and opens the exhaust or relief action of its spring, permitting air to exhaust from the cylinder 9so that no further pressure is applied to the press head and injury to a person near the machine is avoided. The trip 50 is held in its operated position by a spring pressed latch or detent 64 of any suitable construction which must be reset in order to reestablish the normal operation of the machine.

The valve mechanism forcontrolling the ports 28, 30 and 56 is operated by the piston, and that here shown comprises a sleeve 65 movable inthe cylinder, the piston 1 being movable in the sleeve.

The. sleeve valve 65 has ports 66 and 67 normally in line with the cylinder ports 30 and 56 and also sleeve port 68 normally out of line with the cylinder port 28 which communicates with the direct branch 27 of the feed line 26. Thus at the start of the operation, the air flows to the cylinder only through the valve controlled branch 39 and is then also free'to flow out through the port 56 if the handle 61 which operates the two way valve 55 has not been depressed. The air continues to flow into these cylinder ports 39 and 56, and the port 28 remains closed until the piston approaches the end of its throw; that is, the piston slides in the sleeve 65 without moving the sleeve because spring 70 retains the sleevevalve 65 in its openpress position toward the head of the cylinder.

The sleeve 65 is provided with a head or shoulder 69 provided at the bottom thereof and located to be engaged by the piston when it nears the end of its power stroke.

It is obvious that the Sleeve 65 with its ports 68, 66 and 67, which with the ports 28, 30 and 56, constitute valve means normally preventing the flow of motive fluid to the cylinder 9 through the open feed conduit 27 and normally permitting the effective flow of motive fluid to the cylinder through the valve controlled feed pipe 29 when the normally-closedmanually operated valve 31 is operated, that is, sai valve means 65 is operated by themovement of the piston when the piston travels a predetermined distance on its out or power stroke, to cut out the conduit 29 controlled by the manually operated valve 31 and to cut in the cylinder in the main line 26 through the direct pipe or cut out 27 so that the motive fluid is supplied to the cylinder, after the piston has travelled a predetermined; distance, or the press is closed or closedto a safety firstposition, and the operator can release the manually operated valve31 and the press will be held closed by the pressure in the cylinder. 1

It is also obvious that theftwo' valves 31 and 55 constitute a pair of manually operable control valves, both ofwhich must be operated to cause the effective flow of motive fluid to the cylinder, that. the effective flow of motive fit 'd to the cylinder cannot take place if the valve 55 is not operated for the reason that the air will leak out through the ports 67, 56 and passage 58 of the valve 55 and hence, although the air passes into the cylinder, effective pressure will not be applied to the piston 10, and further that after the press has closed to a safety first position, the valve means or'sleevev65 will cut oil the port 56, through which the air would otherwise leak at this time when the operator released the manual-of the valve 55.

It is clear, therefore, that the operator must hold the manuals of both valves 31 and 55 operated until the press closes a predetermined distance or until the piston has travelled a predetermined distance on its power stroke and that after the press has closed a predetermined distance, the control valves and their manuals 34 and 61 can be released, as the valves 31, 55 are by-passed or cut out by the valve means or sleeve 65 and the air is supplied to the cylinder through the by-pass or direct passage 27 which cuts out the two-hand valves 31 and 55.

It is further 0 vious that while the press is closing to a predetermined distance, that is before the piston has reached a predetermined distance on its power stroke, the air is free to pass through the alined ports 67 56, passage 59 and pipe 54 to the diaphragm closing movement or coact respectively.

a 27 aligning cylind by direct fluid pressure received chamber 47 and that if the movable pressing element of the machine encounters an 0b struction, during an intermediate part of its determined distance to safety first position, the back pressure through the pipe 54 ,will be sufficient to actuate the diaphragm 48 to open up the relief or exhaust valve 44 so that the air will exhaust from the cylinder and arrest the downward movement of the press head, thereby causing the press to return to open position.

It is also clear that after the head has closed said predetermined distance, that is, to a safety first position, or the piston 10 has travelled the predetermined distance on its power stroke, the relief port 56 or pipe 54 is cut off or closed by the sleeve valve 65 and at the same time the sleeve valve 65 will be actuated by the piston 10 to entirely out out the conduits 39 controlled by the valve 31 and cut inthe by-pass or direct conduit er port 28 and--sleeve port 68 so that the valves 31, 55 can be released by the operator and the presswill stay closed from feed line 26.

In operation the operator first must operate both handles 34 and 61. The operation of both handles 34 and 61 opens the valve 31 so that air can pass from the feed line 26 through the branch 39, through the cylinder port 30 and port 66 of the sleeve into the cylinder. The operator must also hold the two way valve 55 in'its operated position so that the air can not escape through the port 56 and passage 58 of the two way valve 55 to the outer air. The operation of the handle 61 brings the passage 59 of the two way valve 55 in position to establish'communication of cylinder port 56 with the relief pipe 54. Obviously if either one of these handles is released before the piston reaches the end of its stroke, the air will either be cut oil by the valve 31 or will pass freely out through passage 58 of the two way or exhaust valve 55. Assuming that the operator uses both hands, the air will passinto the cylinder passin through the valve controlled branch 39 and ports 30 and 66 actuating the piston on its power stroke until it approaches the end of its power stroke. The piston then moves the sleeve outwardly against the action of its spring 70. The movement ofthe sleeve closes the ports 30 and 56 and opens the port 28 to the cylinder through the port 68 in the sleeve so. that air pressure through the direct branch 27 holds the piston at the end of its power stroke and hence holds the press closed.

The oscillating of the cylinder by the movement. of the piston therein closes the port 56 so that" it stands closed Without holding the handle 61. The valve 55 is provided with a cut off or full portion 60 arranged before it closes a pre close the port 56 as the piston approaches the end of its stroke and hence as the cylinder reaches the position assumed at the end of its oscillating movement.

In the event that a single control lever is used as the lever 3-1 and the passage 58 of the valve 55 and the control of the port 56 by the sleeve (55 are eliminated, then injury to the free hand of the operator is avoided if the operator has his free hand between the pressing elements, for the reason that the relief valve 44: would, under these conditions, be opened by the back pressure when the press head encounters the free hand of the operator.

Also the relief valve 44 would under such conditions be cut off from the back pressure when the head was closed, by the full portion (30 of the valve 55. However, as the operator might be bunnedslightly by the hot head in case thehead came in contact with his hand, a two hand control is more desirable.

What I claim is:

1. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like comprising a cylinder, a single acting piston movable in the cylinder, means for supplying and controlling the supply of motive fluid to the cylinder, a relief valve, a normally open port in the cy1in der, a pipe connecting said port and the relief valve, and pressure operated means for opening the relief valve on a predetermined back pressure in the cylinder, the cylinder being formed with a relief port, a pipe con nected to said relief port, and valve mechanism operated by the movement of the piston for closing the relief port when the piston approaches the end of its power stroke.

2. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like comprising a cylinder, a single acting piston movable in the cylinder, means for supplying and controlling the supply of motive fluid to the cylinder, a manually operable exhaust valve, a pipe connecting it to the cylinder, the cylinder being formed With a relief port, a relief pipe leading from the relief port, pressure operative means connected in the relief pipe and connected to the exhaust valve to open it on a pre-determined back pressure in the cylinder, and valve mechanism controlled by the movement of the piston to close the relief port as the piston approaches the end of its stroke.

3. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like comprising a cylinder, a single acting piston movable in the cylinder, the cylinder having a pair of intake ports, a feed pipe for a motive fluid having an open branch to one of said ports, and a valve, controlled branch to other of said ports, a normally closed manually operated valve in the latter branch having means tending to hold it closed, and valve mechanism controlled by the movement of the piston to normally open the port connected to the valve controlled branch and close the port connected to the direct branch and to close the port connected to the valve controlled branch andopen the port connected to the direct branch as the piston approaches the end of its power stroke.

4. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like, comprising a cylinder, a single acting piston movable in the cylinder, the cylinder having a pair of intake ports, a feed pipe for a motive fluid having an open branch to one of said ports and a valve controlled branch to the other of said ports, a normally closed manually operated valve in the latter branch having means tending to hold said branch closed to the inlet of fluid from the feed pipe and open to the exhaust from the cylinder, and valve mechanism controlled by the movement of the piston to normally open the port connected to the valve controlled branch and close the port connected to the open branch and to close the port connected to-the valve controlled branch and open the port connected to the direct branch as the piston approaches the end of its power stroke, said valve in the valve controlled branch being a two way valvehaving its passages normally arranged to close its branch pipe to the inlet of fluid from the feed pipe and open said branch to the exhaust of fluid from the cylinder and, when operated, to open said branch to the flow of fluid from the feed pipe and close it to the exhaust of fluid from the cylinder.

5. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like comprising a cylinder, a single actuating piston movable in the cylinder, the cylinder having a pair of intake ports, a feed pipe for a motive fluid having an open branch to one of said ports, anda valve controlled branch to the other of said ports, a normally closed manually operated valve in the latter branch having means tending to hold it closed, valve mechanism controlled by the movement of the piston to normally open the port connected to the valve controlled branch and close the port connected to the direct branch and to close the port connected to the valve controlled branch and openthe port connected to the direct branch as the piston reaches the end of its power stroke, the cylinder also having an exhaust passage provided with a normally closed manually operable exhaust valve therein.

(3. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like comprising a cylinder, a single acting piston movable in the cylinder, the cylinder having a pair of intake ports, a feed pipe for motive fluid having an open branch to one of said ports and a valve controlled branch to other of said ports, a normally closed manually operated valve in the latter branch having means tending to hold it closed, valve mechanism Controlled by the movement of the piston to normally open the port connected to the valve controlled branch and close the port connected to the direct branch and to close the port connected to the Valve controlled branch and open the port connected to the open branch as the piston approaches the end of its power stroke, said valve in the valve controlled branch being a two way valve having an exhaust port and also having passages arranged to normally open the valve controlled branch to the outer air through said exhaust port, whereby said branch serves as an exhaust passage when the valve in said valve controlled branch is in its normal position, and said manually operated valve being movable when operated into position to close the exhaust port and bring said passages into position to connect the feed pipe and the branch in which the nianuallyoperated valve is located, the cylinder having an exhaust passage, a normally closed manually operable exhaust valve therein, the cylinder also having a third port, a pressure operated device, a. conduit connecting the third port and said pressure operated device, and said valve mechanism controlled by the piston having means for normally opening the third port and for closing the same when the piston approaches the end of its power stroke.

7. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like, comprising a cylinder, a single acting piston movable in the cylinder, the cylinder having a pair of intake ports, a feed pipe for a motive fluid having an open branch to one of said ports and a valve controlled branch to other of said ports, a normally closed manually operated valve in the latter branch having means tending to hold it closed, and valve mechanism controlled by the movement of the piston to normally open the port connected to the valve controlled branch and close the port connected to the open branch and to close the port connected to the valve controlled branch and open the port connected to the open branch as the piston approaches the end of its power stroke, the cylinder also having an exhaust passage provided with a normally closed manually operable exhaust valve therein and also having a third port, a pressure operated device, a conduit connecting the third port and said pressure operated device, and said valve mechanism which is controlled by the piston having means for normally opening of third port and the closing of the same when the piston approaches the end of its power stroke, and a two way valve in the conduit connecting the third port and the pressure operated device and having one of its passages opening into the outer air its second passage to establish communication between the third port and said conduit to the pressure operated device and means for operating the two way valve.

8. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like comprising a cylinder, at single acting piston movable in the cylinder, the cylinder having a. pair of intake ports, a feed pipe for a motive fluid having an open branch to one of said ports and-a valve controlled branch to other of said ports, a normally closed manually operated valve in the latter branch having means tending to hold it closed, valve mechanism controlled by the movement of the piston to normally open the port connected to the valve controlled b anch and close the port connected to the open branch and to close the port connected to the valve controlled branch and open the port connected to the open branch as the piston approaches the end of its power stroke, the valve mechanism coinprising a sleeve movable in the cylinder, the sleeve having ports one of which is normally in line with the port connected to the valve controlled branch and the other which is normally out of line of the port connected to the open branch, the two ports in the sleeve being movable respectively out of alinement with the port connected to the valve controlled branch and into alinement with a port connected to the other branch as the piston approaches the end of its stroke.

9. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like comprising a cylinder, a single acting piston movable in the; cylinder, the cylinder having a pair of intake ports, a feed pipe for a motive fluid having an open branch to one of said ports, a valve controlled branch to the other of said ports, a normally closed manually operated valve in the latter branch having means tending to hold it closed, valve mechanism controlled by the movement of the piston to normally open the port connected to the valve controlled branch and close the port connected to the open branch and to close the port connected to the valve controlled branch, and open the port connected to the open branch as the piston approaches the end of its power stroke, the cylinder also having an exhaust passage provided with a normally closed manually operated exhaust valve therein, and also having a third port, a pressure operated device, connections between the said device and the exhaust valve to open the exhaust valve on a predetermined back pressure in the cylinder, a conduit connecting the third port and said pressure operated device, and said valve mechanism which is controlled by the piston having means for normally opening the third port and for closing the same when the piston approaches the end of its power stroke, and a two way valve in the conduit connecting the third port and a pressure operated device having a passage open to the outer air and a passage to connect the third port to the pressure operated device, manual means {or operating the two way valve, a spring acting on the sleeve to move the sleeve to its normal position, and the sleeve having shoulder against which the piston thrusts as the piston approaches the end of its power stroke.

10. An actuating mechanism for pressing machines and the like comprising an oscillating cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, means tor supplying and controlling the flow of motive fluid to the cylinder, a normally closed relief valve connected to the cylinder, the cylinder having a relief port. a relief pipe leading from the port to the relief valve, and means operated by a predetermined back pressure in said relief pipe to open the relief valve on a predetermined back pressure in the cylinder, a valve in the relief pipe having a passage establishing communication between the port and the reliet pipe, the valve having a cut off portion arranged to close said port as the cylinder oscillated a predetermined distance.

11. In a garment or ironing press, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable element. comprising a cylinder, a piston movable. in the cylinder, motion transmitting means between the piston and the movable element, a feed line for a motive fluid, a conduit means connecting the teed line and the cylinder, at normally-closed opcrater-operated valve in said conduit means having means for closing it when released, a conduit connecting the feed line and the cylinder around the normally-closed valve to cut out said valve. and asecond valve means for controlling the flow of motive fluid through the cut out conduit into the cylinder, the second valve means b ing normally closed but movable to open position by travel of the piston when the latter has traveled a predetermined distance on its power stroke to close the press.

12. In a garment or ironing press, eooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable clement comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, motion transmitting means between the piston and the movable element, a feed line for a motive fluid, conduit means connecting the feed line and the cylinder, a pair of control valves in said conduit means and both of which must be operated to cause the. effective flow ot motive fluid to the cylinder, a conduit connecting the feed line with the cylinder independently of said valves to cut out said valves, automatic valve mechanism operated by the movement of the piston normally closing said cut out conduit but operable to open the same after the piston has traveled a predetermined distance on its power stroke to closethe press.

13. In a garment or ironing press, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable element comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, motion transmitting means between the piston and the movable element, a feed line for a motive fluid, conduit means connecting the feed line and the cylinder, :1

pair of control valves in said conduit means and both of which must be operated to cause the effective flow 0t motive fluid to the cylinder, a conduit connected in the feed line and to the cylinder independently of said valves to cut out said valves, automatic valve means operated by the movement of the piston normally closing said cut out conduit and operable to open the same after the piston has traveled a predetermined distance on its power stroke, the automatic valve means also including parts normally opening the conduit means controlled by the manually operated valves and operable to close the same when the piston has traveled the predetermined distance on its power stroke to close the press.

14. In a garment or ironing press, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable element comprising a cylinder, :1 piston movable in the cylinder, motion transmitting means between the piston and the movable element, a feed line for a motive fluid, conduit means connecting the feed line and the cylinder, a pair of spaced manually operated valves in said conduit means for controlling the effective flow of motive fluid to the cylinder, a conduit connecting the feed line to the cylinder independently of the valves to cut out the valves, automatically operated valve mechanism having valve means normally opening the conduit means controlled by the manually operated valves and closing said out out conduit, said automatic valve mechanism being operable by the movement of the piston to close said conduit means controlled by the manually operated valves and to open said out out conduit when the piston has traveled a predetermined distance on its power stroke, and a normally closed manually operable exhaust valve connected to the cylinder.

15. The garment or ironing press of claim 13, in which the second valve means is a sleeve in the cylinder around the piston and actuated by the piston, and the cylinder and sleeve having ports normally out of alinement, the port in the sleeve being movable into alinement with the port in the cylinder when the piston has traveled a predetermined distance on its out stroke,

" ment therewith,

the cut out conduitcommunicating with the port in the cylinder, the sleeve and the piston being connected by a lost mot-ion connection located to be taken up when the piston has traveled a predetermined distance on the power stroke.

16. The garment or ironing press of claim l3 in which the cylinder has an inlet port and said conduit means communicates with said port, the ports being normally arranged in alinementand also the cylinder has a second port and the cut out conduit communicates with the second port, and the second valve means is a sleeve in the cylinder around the piston and has ports for coacting with the former ports in the cylinder, one of the ports being normally in alinement with the first port of the cylinder and movable out of alinement therewith and the other port being normally out of alinement with thesecond port in the cylinder and movable into alinement therewith when the piston has traveled said predetermined distance on its out stroke and connections having a lost'motion between the piston and the sleeve and arranged to be taken up when the piston has traveled said predetermined distance. y

17. The garment or ironing press of claim 14, in which the cylinder has two ports, the conduit means comprises a conduit communicating with one ofsaid ports and in which one of the controlwilves is located, which control valve is normally closed and the other manually operated valve controls the other port and is normally in open position, and in which the automatic valve mechanismis provided with means normally opening said ports and operable to close the same after the piston has traveled said predetermined distance on its out stroke;

18. The garment or ironing press of claim 14, in which the cylinder has two ports, the conduit means comprises a conduit communicating with one of said ports and in which one of the control valves is located and which conlrol valve is normally closed, and the other manually operated valve controls the other port and is normally in open position, and in which the automatic valve means is a sleeve in the cylinder and around the piston, the sleeve having ports normally alined with the former ports and movable P out of alinement therewithwhen the piston has traveled said predetermined distance and also the cylinder has an additional port and the sleeve has an additional port normally port of the cylinder and movable into alinethe cut out conduit being connected to said additional port, and connections between the sleeve and the piston whereby the sleeve is operated to close the first two ports of the cylinder and open the additional port when the piston has traveled out of alinement with the additional a predetermined distance on its power stroke.

1%). In a. garment or ironing press, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and fronrthe other, actuating mechanism for the movable element comprising a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, motion transmitting means between the piston and the movable element, means for supplying and controlling the supply of motive fluid to the cylinder comprising a feed pipe communicating with the :ylinder, a manually-operated normallyclosed intake valve in said pipe having means for returning the valve to its normal position when released, a normally open port opening out of the cylinder, and a manually operable valve having means for returning it to its normal position acting when operated to prevent the flow of fluid through said port. I v

20. In a garment or ironing press, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable element comprising a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, motion transmitting means connecting the piston to the movable element, means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the, cylinder comprising a pipe having a port opening into the cylinder, a second plpe having a port opening into the cylinder, the -second port also normally opening from the cylinder into the outer air, a normally closed intake valve in the first pipe, manual means for opening said valve, and means to return the valve to its normal position when released, a second manually operable valve having means to return it tOzltS normal position for controlling the flow of motive fluid through the second port and being normally in open position to permit the flow of air from the cylinder through said second port to the outer air, all whereby the first valve must be moved to open position and the second valve to closed position to efiect the effective flow of air to the cylinder to actuate the piston therein.

21. In a garment or ironing press,-cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable element comprising a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, motion transmitting means between the piston and the movable element, means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinder comprising a pipe having a port opening into the cylinder, a second. pipe having a port opening into the cylinder, said port also normally opening from the cylinder into the outer air, a normally closed intake valve in said pipe, manual means for opening the valve and means tending to return the valve to its normal position when released, a second manment encounters an ually operable valve having means to return it to its 'normalposition for controlling the flow of motive fiuidthrough the second port and being normally in open position to p mit the flow of air from the cylinder through said second port to the outer air, all whereby the first valve must be moved to open position and the second valve to closed position to effect the effective flow of air to the cylinder to' actuate the piston therein, and automatic valve means operated by the piston for closing said ports when the press approaches closed position whereby the manually operated valve may be released and the press remain closed, and a normally closed manually operable exhaust valve connected to the cylinder. 7

2. In a garment or ironing press, (:0- operating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movable element comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, motion transmitting means between the piston and the movable element, the cylinder having inlet and outlet ports, means for supplying and controlling the supply of motive fluid to the cylinder comprising a feed pipe opening through the inlet port into the cylinder, a manually operable normally-closed valve in said pipe effect the effective flow of the cylinder to actuate the piston therein, automatic valve means controlled by th closing the outlet port when the piston has traveled a predetermined distance on its power stroke, and a normally closed manually-operable exhaust valve connected to the cylinder. l

23. In a garment or ironing press, coacting pressing elements, one of which is n1ovable toward and from the other, actuating mechanism for the movableelement comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, motion transmitting the piston and the movable element, means for supplying and controlling the How of motive fluid to the cylinder, a normally-closed manually-resettable relief valve connected to the cylinder, means operated by a predetermined resistance to the movable element for opening the relief valve to exhaust the air from the cylinder when the movable eleobstruction during the intermediate portion of its closing movement, and means operable to cut out the relief valve opening means as the press finally c oses.

24. In a pressing machine, coacting pressmeans betweenplying and controlling the flow of motive fluid to the cylinder, a manually-resettable relief valve connected to the cylinder,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, this 9th day of May, 1927.

A JOSEPH P. DALY.

e movement of the piston for 

